Karen Tyczkowski honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

Karen Tyczkowski, BSN, RN-NIC, of Christiana Hospital’s Labor and Delivery team, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in June.

ChristianaCare DAISY Award recipients are nurses recognized for meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of patients and families by displaying exceptional clinical skills, compassion, respect and partnership.

The DAISY nomination came from a fellow nurse who described Karen Tyczkowski’s compassionate, steadfast care for patients, families and her colleagues – often during the most difficult times.

Her colleague wrote, “Last week, I was the labor nurse caring for a family and child with known fetal anomalies. The family knew their baby would not survive past delivery but chose to continue with the pregnancy to give the gift of organ donation. This was my first experience taking care of a baby with this condition, and I was having a difficult time coping and preparing the family for what to expect.

“Karen … stayed with me for hours after her shift to help me with the delivery and provide the family with photographs and personalized memories of their baby. Just as she always is, she was calm and patient, and a peaceful presence in a heartbreaking situation.

“I am always grateful for Karen. But I could not have made it through that delivery without her. She took the worst circumstance imaginable for the family and gave them sweet memories of their baby, which included a (first-ever) honor walk to celebrate the family’s precious gift to another family. Karen is a fantastic nurse, and well-deserving of a DAISY Award!”

The Professional Nurse Council at ChristianaCare selects DAISY Award recipients using an anonymous selection process based on nominations from patients, families and all members of the ChristianaCare team. All nurses — inpatient, outpatient and ChristianaCare HomeHealth — are eligible.

Nominate a ChristianaCare nurse for a DAISY Award.